Judean Banker was kept busy with the start of her new job as head of Willoughby Parks and Recreation Department.

First came the task of searching for a person to fill her old job of recreation program coordinator and then came having to deal with cleanup after Hurricane Sandy tore through the area.

"I knew what (former park director) Brian (Katz) did, but I didn't realize the extent of what he did," said Banker, who served as the recreation program coordinator since 1992. "Our new program coordinator just started a week and a half ago. I was doing both jobs, my old job and my new job. Now I think I'll be able to get a better handle on stuff."

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One of Banker's goals is to cut down on vandalism, which, she said, will be easier with the continued support and help from residents.

"We have many residents who live by parks and a lot of times they call the police when stuff happens, which is great," she said. "If we see we have problems in an area we'll ask the police to patrol more in the area."

Vandalism at parks can be found in every city and most of it is simple graffiti, Banker said. Whether minor or more severe, it costs the city money.

"About a month ago we had a disc golf basket cut down from Osborne Park," she said. "It costs $500 to buy one of those. Most of it is graffiti, which doesn't really cost a lot to clean up, but (the city has) to have two guys go scrub a playground for two hours. It adds up."

Another item Banker wants to bring into the department is the increased use of social media.

"Technology is always growing and most people now have smart phones or iPads, something that they're able to take with them," she said. "(With more active social media residents) can have our information with them at all times if we can keep up with it."

Willoughby Mayor David Anderson said the Parks and Recreation Department touches thousands of people in the city and is a big part of residents' quality of life.

"Judean had 20 years of experience with the department and really hit the ground running," he said. "It's been a seamless transition and she's doing a great job."

Banker said she's looking forward to putting some of the city's big plans for the parks into motion.

At the moment, Banker said she and Willoughby's Community Development Manager Janice Lipscomb are working on writing grants to help transform Osborne Park.

"The Osborne Park master plan was created in 2011 by Brian (Katz) and Janice (Lipscomb)," she said. "What we would like to do is, because so many people get married back by the lake, have a gazebo there and a couple more picnic shelters put back there and possibly a rental banquet facility to have as a venue for weddings, birthday parties."